Michael Essien vs Stephen Appiah
Ghana against Ghana. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Michael Essien
Ghana · 2005–12 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in Ghana
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 59 · 9 goals
- Clubs
- SC Bastia, Olympique Lyonnais, Chelsea
Nine minutes into the semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on 6 May 2009, a Barcelona clearance dropped to Essien 25 yards out and he volleyed it in off the underside of the bar. He won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, two Premier League titles and four FA Cups there, back-to-back Ligue 1 titles at Lyon, and took Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2005 and BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2006. Career record: 59 caps and 9 goals for Ghana; club career at SC Bastia, Olympique Lyonnais, Chelsea.
Stephen Appiah
Ghana · 2006–07 · CM
- Almanac rating
- 87
- Rank in Ghana
- #5 of 33
- Caps
- 67 · 14 goals
- Clubs
- Udinese Calcio, Juventus, Fenerbahçe Istanbul
The penalty against the United States in Nuremberg on 22 June 2006 came in first-half stoppage time, and Appiah put it away to make it 2-1 and carry Ghana into the last 16 at their first World Cup. Captain through qualifying and the finals, he was named in the team of the 2006 Nations Cup and won the Süper Lig with Fenerbahçe in 2007, the Supercoppa Italiana with Juventus, and the league and cup with Hearts of Oak. Career record: 67 caps and 14 goals for Ghana; club career at Udinese Calcio, Juventus, Fenerbahçe Istanbul.
The verdict
The almanac puts Michael Essien ahead by 3 rating points, 90 against 87.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.